Patent · US Expired

Device for rapidly discharging without arcing a high-voltage source

US4581559A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1984
Grant dateApr 8, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01T19/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A device for rapidly discharging without arcing a high-tension DC voltage source includes a cylinder of an insulative material in which slide two electrode pistons. These are equipped with internal auxiliary pistons which carry needles which can be deployed so as to project beyond the domed ends of the electrode pistons. The electrode pistons are connected to the terminals of the high-tension voltage source. When compressed air is fed into the central part of the cylinder, the electrode pistons and the auxiliary pistons are driven towards the ends of the cylinder. The rounded domes and the increased pressure of the air provide a high degree of insulation. Once the high-tension DC voltage source has been switched off, the center of the cylinder is vented to atmosphere. The auxiliary pistons are driven towards one another by springs, entraining the electrode pistons and deploying the needles. A corona discharge is established and this discharges the capacitance of the source before the needles come into contact with one another.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.